A few decades ago, Pattaya was a small fishing village on the shores of the Gulf of Thailand. Today, it is a world famous and beloved resort by many, which has everything you need for a good rest and continues to develop. For lovers of active pastime, golf, tennis, water skiing, windsurfing, parasailing, fishing are offered here.
The islands located near Pattaya are ideal for divers, and the white island beaches are just made for fans of bronze tanning. All those wishing to get to know the history and culture of the Thai kingdom, as well as its flora and fauna, are invited to visit ancient Buddhist temples and palaces, exciting trips to crocodile and snake farms, to the village of elephants, etc.
The best excursions and tours in Pattaya
What to do, what to see and where to go at the resort?
River Kwai
An ideal excursion route for those who are visiting Thailand for the first time. It allows you to appreciate all the beauty of the local nature, the uniqueness and richness of the culture and history of the country. The excursion program includes a visit to the elephant village, the Monkey Temple, a coconut farm, hot radon springs, magnificent waterfalls, a royal furniture factory, a tea house, and a floating market. The River Kwai is famous for the railway passing through it, which is called the Road of Death, because more than a hundred thousand people died during its construction during the Second World War. Here you can see a monument created in memory of the many victims.
To the islands
Thailand is often called the country of a thousand islands, excursions to them are a great alternative to city beaches in terms of recreation and entertainment. One of the most frequently visited is Monkey Island, inhabited by friendly monkeys. The island of Ko Lan, closest to Pattaya, is known for its cozy beaches, a trip to the private island of General, snorkeling and fishing. The island of Ko Samet is part of the reserve, has white beaches and exotic vegetation, snorkeling is also popular here, and a fire show is held in the evenings. The second largest island in the country, Ko Chang, is entirely covered with tropical forests, elephants live here, and glowing plankton can be seen in the coastal waters at night.
Cambodia
A two-day excursion to neighboring Cambodia has a rather rich and exciting program. Tourists will visit the city of Siem Reap, several of its temples, Tonle Sap Lake and see a floating village. During dinner, the national show Apsara will be shown at the restaurant. There is also a trip to the city of Angkor - the capital of the powerful ancient Khmer Empire. It is the largest temple complex in the world, consisting of dozens of large and well-preserved temples and hundreds of small, dilapidated temples. The most famous of these is the Angkor Wat temple, an intricate three-level structure with staircases and walkways.
Bangkok
It is impossible to be in Thailand and not visit its exotic capital. The main attraction is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha with the most revered statue of a deity in the country. No less fascinating is the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, its gilded statue is 46 m long, its feet are decorated with pearls. In addition to it, there are about 1000 more statues, this is the largest collection of Buddha images. A walk along Bangkok's Chao Phraya River and its canals will give you an unforgettable experience. An obligatory part of the program is lunch at the highest hotel in Asia and sightseeing of local attractions from the observation deck located on the 84th floor.
Samet Island
The small island of Samet in the Gulf of Thailand is a paradise for all lovers of a relaxing holiday close to nature. It is famous for its semi-wild beaches, azure waters and coral reefs. There is a small fishing village on the island. There are numerous restaurants and bars offering delicious food. Most of the island is part of the National Park and is practically untouched by civilization. Fans of active recreation will find here something to their liking - diving, riding ATVs, jet skis, banana boats, parasailing. In the evening, vacationers are offered to enjoy the fire show.
Marine program "Caribo"
Fascinating sea day excursion by speedboat to the protected island of Ko Pai. Here, fans of active recreation will find a lot of entertainment. Snorkeling, fishing with the subsequent preparation of the catch, wakeboarding, riding on inflatable buns, as well as beach games - volleyball, archery shooting range, badminton. For lovers of quiet rest, special relaxation zones with umbrellas, hammocks, cocktail tasting, and pleasant music are organized. The program includes a light breakfast and a European style lunch. A professional photographer will capture the most successful moments of your vacation.
Princess Island
This secluded, picturesque island belongs to Princess Sirinton and is part of the National Park. Visiting it has become available since 2011, and you can get to the island only as part of tourist groups. This place has a very rich underwater animal world and beautiful coral reefs, all tourists are invited to go snorkeling. Those who wish can take a ride on bicycles around the island, and there is also the opportunity to swim on boats with a transparent bottom. Among the sights closest to the island, it is worth noting a Buddhist temple, a turtle farm and a multi-meter image of Buddha, laid out on the mountain in gold plates.
Ayutthaya
This is the former capital of ancient Siam, one of the largest and richest cities in Indochina, which in the middle of the 18th century was almost completely destroyed and plundered by the Burmese. The ruins of temples and palaces have survived to this day, some of them have been restored, in some places archaeological excavations continue. The city is one of the UNESKO World Heritage Sites. The tour includes a visit to several temples and monasteries. Near one of them is the famous ancient shrine of the Thais - the head of the Buddha, shrouded in the centuries-old roots of ficus. Also, tourists have the opportunity to visit the summer residence of the royal dynasty, surrounded by a magnificent park.
Nong Nooch Garden
One of the most beautiful gardens in Thailand began to be created back in 1954 by Mrs. Nong Nooch and her husband, now the family business is continued by the son of Kampon Tansacha. The entire territory is divided into several thematic zones. This is a corner with fragrant multi-colored orchids, and a collection of palms brought from different parts of the world. There is also a hill of butterflies with bright flowers that attract numerous winged insects, and a European corner with gazebos and fountains, and compositions of flower pots. Another hobby of the owner of the garden is cars. A collection of 40 rare and exclusive cars is also available for inspection in the park.
Khao Kheo
Not far from Pattaya, on an area of more than 800 hectares, there is a national open-air zoo, the name of which translates as "green mountain". The purpose of its creation was to protect many endangered species of animals in Southeast Asia and preserve the natural conditions of their habitat. There are almost no cages in the zoo, animals live in a comfortable environment for themselves, almost all of them can be hand-fed or photographed. Here you can see bears and elephants, monkeys and camels, tigers and kangaroos, lemurs and koalas, giraffes and hippos, a variety of birds and butterflies. One of the rare specimens of the zoo is a cute biturong animal, which is also called a bear cat.
Diving in Pattaya
A fascinating excursion to the underwater world of the Gulf of Thailand with its rich flora and fauna is available not only for experienced divers, but also for beginners. A competent Russian-speaking instructor with a medical education will provide detailed instructions and training, and then he will supervise the dive and be in the immediate vicinity of novice divers. There are two 45 minute dives and a delicious Thai lunch included. Experienced licensed divers are offered an exciting journey to the wrecks in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Thailand, home to coral and a variety of marine life.
Quad biking
An unforgettable journey with an adrenaline rush for all outdoor enthusiasts. Before the start of the excursion, tourists are given detailed instructions. However, riding an ATV does not require special skills, there is an automatic transmission. The route is off-road in the vicinity of Pattaya. The trail goes through fruit plantations, where you can see how pineapple, papaya, mango and bananas are grown. This is followed by a visit to a Buddhist temple, swimming in the cool waters of Silver Lake. One of the main components of the excursion is wild nature - jungles and swamps, mountain slopes and picturesque streams, a diverse fauna.
Muang Boran (Old Siam)
The majestic ancient city of Muang Boran is an open-air park and museum on the outskirts of Bangkok. It covers an area of about 80 hectares and includes copies of the most famous structures in the country. Among them are not only existing temples and palaces, but also destroyed in the course of history and restored according to ancient chronicles and frescoes. And also mythical creations created by the imagination of architects. The territory of the city repeats the outlines of Thailand on the world map, and all exhibits are located according to their real geographic location. It is more convenient to move around the park by bicycles, golf carts, or on the water by boats.
Crocodile farm
One of the largest farms is located 14 km from Pattaya. There is also a unique rock garden here. Visitors can see rare and unusual natural objects - bizarre trees, flowers and shrubs, petrified tree trunks and huge stones of various intricate shapes that nature has created over millions of years. There are tens of thousands of crocodiles on the farm, and they are everywhere. You can just watch them from the bridges, you can feed them by casting a fishing rod with a live chicken. The crocodile show is popular, during which the tamer demonstrates various exciting tricks. There is also a mini-zoo on the farm.
Snake farm
At the beginning of the tour, the guides tell the guests of the farm about their pets. In total, there are about 20 species of snakes, including poisonous ones. All of them are in cages, you can carefully examine them, take a photo. A nearby shop offers medicines based on snake venom and bile. Then an exciting and dangerous show begins. It includes a performance of a tamer with several cobras, a duel of two snakes, a battle between a mongoose and a poisonous reptile. After the show, viewers are invited to dinner with snake delicacies. You can try cobra soup or roast, poison cocktail, snake heart and blood.
Temple complex Wat Yan
The unique temple complex, located 25 km from Pattaya, is considered a sacred and miraculous place among the Thais. In addition, it is under the patronage of the royal family. The park with pavilions for meditation is located at the foot of the mountain, on which the image of Buddha more than 150 m high is laid in gold plates. The complex contains temples from different periods of time, not only in Thailand, but also in China and India. Nearby, at the top of the mountain, there is a small chapel with a footprint of the Buddha. To get to it, you need to go through 300 steps, symbolizing the complete cleansing of all the negativity left at the foot of the mountain.
Chachoengsao Province
A trip to the nearby province of Chachoengsao will be filled with bright colors and unforgettable impressions from everything you see. First of all, these are Buddhist temples, striking with their external and internal splendor, statues of deities, picturesque natural landscapes. There is also a museum of sand figures depicting the sights of Thailand and various mythical characters. A visit to the largest park of parrots and tropical birds in Asia will bring a lot of positive emotions. They move freely around the reserve, you can watch them, take pictures, feed them and even see the process of the appearance of small parrots in the incubator.
Siam Park in Bangkok
An excursion to the amusement park and water attractions will give a lot of vivid positive emotions and unforgettable impressions with the taste of adrenaline to any person, regardless of his age. There are breathtaking roller coasters, the Boomerang, the Condor Tower, which raises 50 meters, and the Gene Drob pillar with a free fall from a height of 75 m. fantasy "with spaceships and the" Small World "zone for kids. The water park offers slides of different heights, a lazy river, the largest pool with an artificial wave, even listed in the Guinness Book.
Amazing Thailand
The excursion begins with a visit to a Buddhist temple, in which the monks conduct the burial ceremony for failures. Pilgrims from all countries come here to take part in the rite of purification of karma and complete rebirth. Further, the route passes through one of the national reserves, where tourists will have a seven-kilometer rafting down the river, ending with a swim in the refreshing waters of a mountain river. The next stage is a quad bike ride through the wild jungle and a stop at the magnificent multi-level Sarika waterfall. The way back lies through a Buddhist monastery, on the territory of which flying foxes live.
Magic of the east
An informative excursion with a rich program gives you the opportunity to touch the mysterious Eastern religion and philosophy, receive the blessing of monks and find peace and luck in all matters. In a Buddhist temple, tourists will go through numerous rituals and cleanse their karma with good deeds. This is followed by a visit to temples and monasteries, a museum with terracotta warriors, a Thai village with long-necked women, a high mountain with a rock image of Buddha made of pure gold, vineyards on the shores of Silver Lake with tasting fresh grape juice. The last leg of the journey is a trip to a sheep farm.
Spice garden
The excursion begins at the Spice Museum, where visitors will learn about the history of cultivation, use and medicinal properties of many spices, including little-known ones. There is also an opium hall, guides will tell you about the ancient traditions of the use of this substance and the laws of Thailand in relation to drugs. Further, the excursion will move to a picturesque garden, where famous herbs and other exotic plants grow. The program will continue with a lunch, during which the chef will prepare popular Thai dishes in front of the audience. This will be followed by a tasting of local tea and a visit to a shop selling spice sets, tea, cosmetics, Thai wines.
Magical tattoos Sak yant
Ancient Thai and Cambodian Sak Yant tattoos in the form of geometric patterns and images of animals can influence human life, bring good luck, protect against disease and adversity. Since ancient times, they were applied in monasteries by Buddhist monks and spoke with prayers.Now they can be performed by secular masters, but not all, but only those who observe certain religious vows. Tattoo artists are called Ajahn. Tourists are invited to watch his work, as well as, if desired, choose a tattoo for themselves. At the same time, Ajahn himself can advise the pattern for application, he is able to feel each person. At the end of the process, the tattoo will be cast.
Alangkarn show
This is a theatrical show on the history and traditions of Thailand, told through national dance and music using modern technologies in the field of pyrotechnics and laser special effects. The Alangkarn Theater Center is a 2000-seat auditorium with a huge stage and two large screens. The entire performance lasts 3 hours and consists of three acts. In the first, viewers are introduced to the culture and history of the country, its myths and beliefs. The second act tells the story of sad events in national history when Thai culture was suppressed. And the last act is the most fun and exciting, dedicated to the modern culture of Thailand and the Royal Family.
Transvestite show "Colosseum"
The show opened in 2013 in the southern part of Pattaya. The building in which it passes, with its architecture resembles the ancient Roman Colosseum. In an hour and a half performance, striking in its scale, bright stage costumes, light and laser effects, a hydraulic stage, a 3D system, changeable scenery, and numerous props are used. Various compositions on the theme of history, military battles, dances of Japanese geishas, a colorful Indian bazaar are presented to the attention of the audience. And all this in a varied musical accompaniment. After the show ends, all of its main artists go outside and take pictures with the audience for an additional fee.
Thai boxing
He became world famous in the 70s of the last century, when the Thais won in duels with representatives of other martial arts. Modern boxing is called "the fight of eight limbs", tk. the feet, legs, knees, hands, fists, elbows are involved in the fight. An invariable tradition of fights is a prayer that the fighters read before the fight, and a special ritual dance in honor of the coach. Staged fights can be seen when attending ethnic shows, for example, in Nong Nooch Park. And real professional fights take place at two stadiums in Pattaya, where not only Thais compete, but also athletes from America, Europe and Russia.
